My Travels

2014 has started out with a bang.  I have hardly had time to think, let alone plan my year – then again, us Gemini’s plan but don’t plan at the same time.

Formula 1 Season is almost upon us and I cannot wait to start getting back into the season!

Ok – So, London is on the radar for July to see my brother, my nephew and explore a little bit of Ireland with my boo.

I was rummaging through old photos reminiscing about this wonderful life I have had the privilege of living thus far... looking back, I have had so many travel adventures and so for this blog, I have decided to take a walk down memory lane and write down each destination and recount a few stories or feelings..  (In no particular order!)

Barcelona!! Meeting Vere – my friend from school CJB - fellow Cheerleader! and having a jolly good catchup – Spending it with my best friend made it that much more enjoyable. Flamenco! Yeppa - and ofcourse F1 - :)

 

 

 

 

Singapore – Watching the first F1 night race and meeting Fernando Alonso in the flesh.  In Singapore I had my food poisoning body – it was fabulous… The lights, the people. Wonderful city.  It was such an amazing, blissful feeling and electric atmosphere, I wanted to move to the city that seems to work so well, people are so orderly.

Shanghai.. So much to say about Shanghai.. Meeting Moya, my China - my travel pal -  and drinking wine, going for massages, meeting famous people and watching her teach dance! Dinner with the French Ambassador - Ah! Wonderful. I fell inlove with the vibrance of the night sky - and I really want to see Beijing next!

London – Countless visits. Pooped on by birds in Trafalgar square. Seeing my brother, meeting my nephew.. the list goes on – taking trains to visit all my friends around England. Good times….

I cant even recount all of the fabulous people who are in my heart who live in London.  My family.. Sarah and Andy, friends from my youth, who have impacted my life in big and small ways and who have helped shaped who I am today.  I have been to London 14 times and yet, it never gets old. The drippy rain.. the grey angry clouds, the people scurrying around to the tubes to get to work half wet.. focussed on the task at hand. Newspaper under arm, running, suits that dont fit well... and  the tourists wondering in and out of shops. Cornish pies in Cavadish garden, The Opulence of Harrods and many more.  Yet, I cannot wait to go back in July - in the summer where everyone is out, the pubs are full and people actually smiling!

 

Dubai - I visited my cousin, Buddy and had a smashing time. Spent NYE in the Hilton hotel eating very expensive Vietnemese cuisine and danced with the son of a Sheik. What a brat. Celebrated a non Christmas-Christmas and just had a wonderful 3 weeks! I learned so much about Arabic Culture - Dubai is such a stark contrast of old and new world traditions. Very chique and refined place. Also, a little opressive...

 

 

Hong Kong – 5 Star hotel, late nights, jetlag, panda bears and shopping – oh and turtle soup eeeeu – with my short hair!  (Dn't judge me by this pic it was HUMID, my hair had gone home to Africa - really the short hair looked fabulous at one point!) When I went to Hong Kong, It felt as though I was just a gypsy wondering the earth, it was so fabulous as it was a quick 5 day trip - big city - big lights - > Energy~! There is nothing like Landing in Hong Kong where either side of the runway is the ocean! eek.

Belgium – Great Friends, A visit to Bruges, Mannequin Piss (not sure why everyone is enamored with this toddler peeing) – driving a GTI to Spa Francorchamps  – what a wonderful two week trip tasting the Belgian beer, chocolates and listening to French, Flemish and Dutch. Dont forget watching F1 at the best corner ever! Eu Rouge! :) - And Ferarri Wins! Hooray.

 

Small stopover in Amsterdam –

 

Really it isn’t just about weed, prostitutes and gorgeous men – no wait –--> it IS! <----- LOL but I can understand them when they talk hahah BONUS! - I love Amsertdam - everyone is fit and in shape. people cycle everywhere with a purpose. People stand and read actual books along the canal. People look you in the eye - and disarm you with their looks and then they leave you with the check!! hahah  I <3 Amsterdam -

                                       after Amsterdam - we went to Bruge for a water boat tour and connecting with this gothic little city. wonderful architecture. Beautiful graveyards.

 

 Honeymooning in the Bahamas with my first love and then husband of 19 years. What bliss! Love the accents of the people.  One person asked me on the beach if I was one of the "Miss Universe contestants” – whoo whooo to be 21 again LOL - I remember thoroughly indulging in the clear blue / green waveless ocean- watching the little sea creatures swim around my feet.  Wearing my black and orange bikini. I was sunkissed and toned from my crazy workouts leading up to my wonderful wedding day. I felt fabulous and what a wonderful little place to relax and be in love. :)

 

 

Good day Mate – family, friends, laser tag, the beach – I felt like I was in Cape Town.. every second person is a Saffa.. most have Aussie accents – confused! LOL – Jetlag and spending NYE in flight over the Indian ocean only to wake up to NYE again.. wowzer – headspin...

 

I did get to see the sunset from inside the cockpit during takeoff – next to Captain James whatshisname… In a long blue skirt and black tank top.  Smiling from ear to ear (me - not him!) - Perth was wonderful though Unimpresive.. I need to go back to see it again :) Well I want to go to Syney and Melbourne next (OFCOURSE there is a F1 race there.. DUH!)

 

PARIS! Who even has accurate words to describe Paris? Being in love with it all….The Louvre, Champs Elysees, coffee & croissants, men sitting down uninvited at your table at a restaurant whom you don’t know, just starting random conversations about love and romance!

My room was way too small – so  we decide 0 LIGHTBULB.. lets move some furniture around and dang we break the closet into pieces.. oops!!  Long walks  to the New City and up the Arc de Triumph – crying at the Notre Dame. Ah Paris, my love I will see you again.
 – the Eiffel tower, anniversary dinner of Seafood

 And then there was VENICE... - celebration of the turn of a decade - my 30th! Toasting with Champagn on a gondola, Like I had dreamed when I was 16  years old.  Walking my feet flat through all the side streets, being in awe of and curious about everything.. and drooling in the Roberto Cavali store. Ah! Gelato! :)

 

 

Italy - (Sorrento, Rome, and most of the Southern Part) – I was 18 – my first trip out of the country.. a train ticket in hand and adventure in my heart  -3 weeks of Oh MY GOD fun, frustration, world cup, huge heavy luggage with no wheels.. Assisi!  Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love…and a random Patrick Swayze song.

This is where all my adventures began.. where the bug bit hard. Italy is forever in my heart. There is nothing like an Italian summer... love, festivities, loud people, just enjoying life. Siesta~!!



 

 

 

 Check out the shorts ---->
YIKES!!

 GABON
We got stuck here.. not by choice  -one week of HELL – well, it turned out not so bad.  We were enroute to Italy when they kicked us off the plane, and told us "it is not possible" (response to every question) in African-French accents NO ONE spoke English.. cab drivers revelled in ripping us off.... and the next flight out was in a week...  met A weird man in whose home we stayed... porn... I slept in a hammock>? No wait really?, watching people build a boat and the best crab curry of my entire life!

 

Thailand.  Orchids are brought by beautiful women to your hotel room every night, the women present them and say goodnight - wishing you a lovely evening... 5 star living. Beach massages, snorkeling, waking bare foot on the white beach sands of Pee-pee island, bartering for goods that already only cost $5!

 

Zimbabwe – getting sprayed by the falls. Dinner boat cruises, tons of crazy hippos and good friends. The joys of Africa!  This was a work trip and the people I worked with were wonderful - we laughed and watched the sunset from a river cruise over the goregous falls of Africa!

 

Swaziland by bus – beautiful women, church trip and my first beauty pageant~! J

 

All of my US trips have been well documented in my blog..

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a wonderful way to go down memory lane.. and so much more to come!

Stories honestly told and deeply contemplated offer us a glimpse of the meaning and desires of our lives. As long as I have known myself and been aware that I had desires, dreams and a soul. This world called to me from the deepest depths.. Not because of anything anyone else had said, or something I had read or seen on TV – it deeply planted in my soul this yearning for adventure - to explore this world.  The seduction of what lies outside every border that I am in, entices me like nothing else on earth. 

I want to be fierce, courageous and honest in pursuit of my life’s desires. So here I go – like a wrecking BALL!!! :-)